Hermann h



(No Model.)

H. H. KOELLER.

HITGHING POST.

Patented May 11, 1886.

M PETERS. Plwmlllhographor, Wnhington, DA C.v

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

HERMANN H. KoELLER, on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

HITCHING-POST.

SPEFICATION forming part of Letters` Patent No. 341,488, dated May 11,18.86.

Application filed Eecember 18, 1885. Serial No. l86,063. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN H. KOELLEE, of the city of St. Louis, in theState of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inHitcl1ing-Posts,'of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, and in which- Figure lis a side elevationshowing the post, mounting-step, and attachment to the hitching device.Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the weighted hitchchain, clampingdevices, dtc.; and Fig. 3 is a top View ot' the mounting-step, taken online 3 3, Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, in which Similar letters indicate like partsin the different iigures, A represents one ot my hollow metalhitchingposts, and B the iigure ot a horses head that surmounts thepost, being secured to it by a collar, B', that is cast as an integralpart with the head. This collar is provided with an internal screw thatengages with the screw-thread around the upper part of the post.

C and D represent the duplicate sections of a mounting step, which areSupplied with iianged bracket-collars C and D,that are cast integralwith said parts of the step. Threaded bolts E pass through coincidentholes at the junction of the bracketiianges, and, when setached by achain, H, to a suspended weight,

I. This weight keeps the chain withdrawn and housed within the post whennot in use, and keeps the hitch-snap at the nose of the tigure-head-themost convenient position for the rider to reach to and attach his horsebefore dismounting.

By forming the mounting-step in two parts cut away at their adjacentedges, for embracing the post, andsecuring them thereto by clamp bolts,substantially as described, the movement of the weight I is unimpeded,and said weight may fall below or rise above the plane of said Step,which would not be possible if the bolts which support the latter eX-tended into the post. I am thus enabled to effectually combine a stepand a bitching-post having a weighted bitching-chain.

The double step reaching both Sides of the post offers a good facilityfor dismounting and remounting.

The chain, after entering the mouth ot' the figure-head, passes througha tubular oritice ycured to a shaft, O, passing' through the head of thepost, one end of said shaft, or each end, if desired, being secured to alever, O, which is made to represent the horses ear. The weight, it maybe seen, always tends to draw the chain within the post; hence when thecam is moved out of engagement (in which position it may be held orcounterbalanced by the weight ofthe ears O) the weight will take up theunnecessary slack, so that the horse can never get his feet over thehitch-chain, which has been the cause of many accidents.

By the use of this hitching device the use ot' cumbrous hitch-strapsattached to the bridle or harness or carried in the vehicle can bedispensed with, and the normal position of the hitch-snap is always atthe nose ofthe figurehead ata convenientheight for bitching, which canbe easily done by mounted travelers before dismounting.

I have described my hitch-post surmounted with the figure-head ofahorse; but I may use any other suitable figure-head without departingfrom the essential features of my invention.

I claim as my invention l. The combination, with the hollow post A,having the head B and the hollow neck, of the bitching-chain H, passingthrough said neck, and having the weight I, depending within saidpost, apawl, K, within the head, dogging said chain automatically against theaction of the weight, and a shaft, O', to which said pawl is Secured,projecting on the outside of the hea,d,fo1` engagement when it isdesired O, forming at once an operating-lever and a to release thechain, as set forth. counter-balance to hold said cam in or out of 2.The combination, with the hollow post A, engagement, as set forth.

having the head B and the hollow neck, of the HERMANN H. KOELLER.

- and having the Weight I, depending Within said post, the com K withinsaid head, and the ear BENJN. A. KNIGHT, SAML. KNIGHT- 5 bitching-chainH, passing through said neck, I n presence of-

